The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 234

ree.lly lived, that she had natural appetite, that he lovingly thought of the little things his dear ones needed, and that she was back again in the old life and home, though with a new love in her heart. So, many now who are dead to the old life and alive unto righteousness are called upon by their Lord to go back to their former work and companionship, but to serve him by shedding on these the light of holiness and love. From some he demands the public confession that they are on his side which he asked of the woman who had been secretly cured; but there are others to whom publicity is painful, whose experience is not to be blazed a.broad, lest the beauty of childlike t.rust and the bloom ot early piety be destroyed.-A. R. Vers. 1-20.-A ma,n with an unclean spirit. It is no part of the office of tl:e homilist to enter upon the field of apologetics or exegesis. Criticism and inter- pretation provide the words with their definite meanings. Homiletics unfold and apply practical lessons. The difficulties of this narrative must, therefore, be discussed elsewhere. I. Our attention is first arrested by the physical derangement exhibited in this case of possession by "an unclean spirit." The sadness of this spectacle is amply exhibited in the words of vers. 2-5. The overpowering of the entire personality of the victim by "an unclean s12i~it" poi_nts to a fearful possibility of the human life. Does sin open the door to the spmt of evil? The man was under the power of an unclean spirit was led to do unclean acts. He dwelt remote from his fellows, "in the tombs." H; was possessed of unusual physical strength; he could not be bound, "no, not with a chain." "No man bad strength to tame him." This unusual power was exercised in "crying out and cutting himself with stones." Whatever the precise nature of this affliction, the scene exhibits the human life in its utter'Tfl,()st derangement. II. On the moral side the attitude of the unclean spirit towards Jesus is expressed as one of utter repudiation: "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God?" They had nothing in common. What can the spirit of evil have to do with Jesus? They mutually recede; they are mutually opposed. These appear before us as representing two kingdoms, wholly diverse in character. The one is a kingdom of evil and uncleanness; the other a kingdom of peace and righteousness. In the one the human life is disorganized; in the other it attains its true dignity, har- mony, and blessedness. The one is for it a kingdom of darkness; the other a kingdom of light. In the one is death ; life is found in the other.. They have nothing in common; they are mutually exclusive, mutually destructive. IIL The supreme authority of Jesus, "Son of the Most High God," in the sphere of the human life is a.gain illustrated, as also his attitude towards all human suffering. "·with authority he commands," "Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man," and in pitifulness he releases the oppressed. Thus is fulfilled that "which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases." Else- where is this more amply illustrated. IV. The changed condition of the life when Jesus has exerted upon it his power, and evicted the spirit of uncleanness, is simply and beautifully portrayed in the picture pre- sented to the eyes of the multitude who "came to see what it was that had come to pass," and beheld "him that was possessed with devils sitting, clothed, and in his right mind." With affectionate gratitude he now cleaves to Jesus, beseeching" him that he might be with him." The refusal was not in harsh judgment against the redemed one, but for the instruction and profit of all others-that he may go and "publish how great things Jesus had done for him." Out of this incident let the central words, "What have l to do with thee?" be chosen as a test by which each may prove his nearness to Jesus or hie recession from him. At one extreme lies this word of utter rejection-the word of Satanic repudiation; at the other, words which express the most complete absorption of the life in devotion to him-" To me to live is Christ." This declares the perfect identification of the individual life with the person, the mission, the spirit:.,.of Jesus. The one affirms, "I know no lifo within the sphere of Christ's kingdom·;" tbe other," I know no life beyond it. Hie name defines the boundary of my aims, my activities, my hopes. I am lost, buried, absorbed in him; to all things else l die." How many are the gradations between these extremes I Let each test himself as to OB, V, 1-43,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 231